(Acworth, Ga. – Sept. 15, 2014) Chattahoochee Technical College’s newly introduced Healthcare Management program is a hybrid between the college’s health science programs and its business studies. For the 23 students currently enrolled this semester, it is a combination of coursework that will allow them to focus just as much on accounting as anatomy.
“This program focuses on the business side of healthcare,” explained Lead Instructor Rhonda Lively. “Every physician’s goal is to provide appropriate healthcare to patients. However, the medical facility must manage the operations side of patient care in order to provide the care. This program provides an educational foundation for medical facility supervisory and management skills necessary in the effective and efficient management of daily business operations.”
The role of a healthcare manager is a growing one in the workplace. Its foundational concepts that can be applied to the management of dental, medical, veterinary, urgent care, walk-in clinics, hospitals and ambulatory care. Job titles include Physician Practice Manager, Medical Office Manager, Clinic Coordinator, Physician Practice Supervisor and many other positions.
To enroll in the program students should complete 15-credit-hours of general education requirements. No entrance exam is required for the program, but successful students will possess several skills and traits, according to Lively. Prospective students should have critical thinking skills, effective verbal and written communication, as well as the ability to apply concepts and theories to medical office management simulations.
The 60-credit-hour associate of applied science program is offered to students who want to study full-time or part-time. Course work focuses on the business operations of human resources, management, patient care processes and workflow, inventory management, accounting, strategic planning, marketing, electronic medical records and healthcare law. Courses are offered at several different campuses, including the Appalachian, Canton, Marietta and North Metro campuses. Some courses are also available online. After acceptance into the program, students enrolled full time should expect to complete the program in three semesters, including a capstone course.
“This culmination of concepts and theories learned through the Associate Degree in Healthcare Management courses are applied in the Capstone Course during the last semester,” said Lively. “The Capstone Course utilizes a medical practice/facility simulation style classroom environment for students to apply educational knowledge to daily medical management operations. The added benefit of this degree rests in the articulation agreement with the University System of Georgia colleges for transfer of academic courses. It is a great holistic approach to many facets of healthcare management.”